Amnesty International has demanded an immediate investigation into the alleged torture and killing of a 16-year-old boy, Bishir Malam Dauda, while in police custody in Katsina State. The rights group stated that Bishir was reportedly tortured to death by officers from the Yankara police outpost in Faskari Local Government Area following his arrest for allegedly stealing a bag of soya beans.
In a statement released on its Facebook page on Saturday, Amnesty International revealed that its inquiry found the teenager was severely beaten with iron rods after being taken from his Tsangaya school on May 7, 2026. The organization said Bishir’s name was mentioned by a friend during a police investigation into the theft.
“Unaccompanied and without any adult relative present, Bishir was tied up by police and ordered to confess. He refused, leading to further torture until he lost consciousness,” the statement noted. The group alleged that officers later dumped his body at the Yankara Primary Healthcare Centre.
The rights organization described the incident as part of a broader pattern of human rights abuses by the Nigeria Police Force. “What happened to Bishir Malam Dauda highlights a systematic pattern of ruthless human rights violations where victims are arrested and tortured until they either confess or pay a bribe to be freed,” Amnesty International stated.
The group accused the police of operating with impunity, fostering fear and corruption among citizens. “The Nigeria Police, created to protect the people, has instead become a threat to society, torturing victims with complete impunity while creating a toxic climate of fear and corruption,” the organization added.
Amnesty International called for all officers involved directly or indirectly in the incident to be identified and prosecuted. “This tragedy must not be swept aside. Police officers responsible for this atrocity must be held accountable,” the statement said. The group also noted that its research since 2016 has consistently documented cases of torture, unlawful detention, and brutality by police officers against accused individuals.